Thursday, June 12, 2014

Concrete Color Pigment Usage And Tips

By Sally Delacruz


There are a variety of options for concreted surfaces that provide more than the traditional dull and boring look. These days, you can choose a variety of textures, colors, and types of surfaces for installation that aid in creating a more decorative look. When it comes to coloring, concrete color pigment provides many different choices.

Pigments for this type of application will be in either a liquid or powder form. These pigments can be an integral or surface type, depending on how they should be applied. Each type will also have different requirements for how to mix them. For instance, a liquid may need to have water added before they are put into the mix. There may be specific usage instructions, such as applying a liquid coloring to a cured concreted surface similar to a stain.

As one of the three groups of pigments, the ones that are made from iron oxide are the most common. They are not as expensive as the other groups, but the selection of colors is somewhat limited. Available choices are typically earthy colors. Hues of browns, deep reds, and darker yellows make up the choices for this group. These pigments are popular, not only because of their lower price but also because of the somewhat neutral colors that can be used for indoor or outdoor applications.

A second group of pigments are metal oxides. They are in the middle in relation to price when compared with the other two groups of pigments. Unlike iron oxide pigments, there are more colors available depending on the type of metal oxide used. Chromium oxide provides green colors and titanium oxide gives you a bright white. You can also choose from reds, purples, and blues in various shades and opacity levels.

Synthetic pigments, the third main group, are the most expensive. They do provide you with the largest selection of colors, which contributes to their higher cost. These pigments are typically stronger so they do not require as much to achieve desired results in an application. The color palette is large and includes vibrant colors such as bright purple and yellow along with nearly any other color you could think of.

Packaging for powdered pigments includes cans and pre-measured dissolving bags. These pigments come in granule or fine forms. Granules are recommended for cement mixing trucks and large industrial mixers. Fine pigments, in true powder form, are designed for do it yourself uses and appropriately sized manual cement mixers, such as the ones that are used by homeowners who are attempting projects on their own.

Liquid pigments are solid pieces of pigments that are suspended in a special liquid that gives you time to measure out what you need before it begins to settle. While it is still in the container, it should be mixed frequently to prevent settling as well. Make sure that you determine if it is already diluted or in concentrated form before you begin measuring.

The benefits of pigments for concreted surfaces are numerous. Many people seek protection for their concreted surfaces after they have been colored. Surfaces can be highly polished to resemble marble, but the pigments can help repel water. Liquid and synthetic pigments are generally the ones that provide this extra protection.




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